This one is educational for all recording musicians, and hopefully entertaining for the rest. It’s a crystal clear demonstration of the drastic and dynamic differences in sound as affected by the ambiance or environment. Something to remember when you’re not getting the sound you want in the studio – especially with acoustic instruments. This is very cool.

After a quiet three years, iconic rock band U2 have debuted a brand new song as part of the promotional push for an upcoming film about Nelson Mandela.

Released as the musical accompaniment to a new trailer for Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom, the new U2 song is as yet unnamed. The song is only available through the extended film preview, which you can stream on NME, but will later appear as part of the film’s official soundtrack. No release date has been set for that collection.

This song is apparently only the tip of the iceberg as far as new material goes. U2 bassist Adam Clayton recently revealed that the band are aiming to finish a new album by the end of November. No word yet on a release or potential single, but it seems safe to assume a new album could hit shelves sometime in 2014. Will it be followed by a tour? Only time will tell.

Blink-182 are at the top of their game right now. Having released a best-selling album a year ago, the trio is currently in the midst of another sold out tour, and this morning they indicated that 2014 will be even better.

Speaking openly with Yahoo! in a new interview, Blink-182 finally opened up about their long-rumored plans to release more music. According to the band they are currently in talks with various label and producers, but they are hopeful new music will be available to fans at some point within the next year. You can read an except from the article below:

So next year there will be a new record?

Hoppus: Yes.

DeLonge: That’s the plan.

Do you have a producer?

Hoppus: No. We’re talking about it but we haven’t decided on anyone yet. This whole tour, this whole experience is about getting ready for that next record. We’ve been meeting with labels, we’ve been talking about producers, trying to figure out internally what the plan is for Blink.

Hoppus: We’re not against it. If it’s the right label and the right partnership and the right vibe or we could do it ourselves or use a distributor. There are so many options for bands now.

DeLonge: There’s not just like be completely independent or be on a label. There are many shades of grey so you can use labels for parts of what you need or you can hire services. It’s a lot of options. We’re not opposed to any of them.”

Blink-182 performed over the weekend at Riot Fest Chicago. Footage of their performance can be viewed at the end of this post.

We will cover the production of Blink-182’s album in the months ahead and will let you know the moment new information becomes available. Follow OurStage on Twitter and Facebook for the latest music news and information. (more…)

Just months after making a splash on the blogosphere with her debut release The Movement, Australian export Betty Who has announced that she has already begun work on a brand new EP.

Speaking exclusively with Billboard this week, Betty revealed that she is currently in Los Angeles working on new material.” She thought about jumping into a full length, but ultimately decided a “part two” was a better move. “We also didn’t want to make people wait a year for more material,” she says. “I only have four songs out — that just seems kind of cruel.”

As for her new lyrical direction, Who says, “I was in an unrequited love-type relationship when we were putting out the first EP. A lot of the songs were about being in love with somebody and not having them love you back, and learning from that. I think, because I’ve been so busy, I haven’t really been distracted by men and by my relationships as much as by work¦ There’s definitely heartbreak in the second EP, but it’s a little less consuming.”

We fell in love with Betty Who back in April and cannot wait to hear what she has to offer next. For now, click below to enjoy the video for her latest hit, “You’re In Love.” (more…)

Lil Wayne went on record earlier this year saying he was becoming bored with rap. In fact, Wayne said after Tha Carter V he would retire from rap for good. Now, in a new interview with MTV, Wayne reveals he has plenty more music on the way (or at least in the works).

Chatting with RapFix live, Lil Wayne and Birdman confirmed that they are indeed working together on a new Big Tymers release. Surprisingly, Mannie Fresh will not be part of the release, but YMCMB heartthrob Drake will. No explanation was offered for Mannie’s departure, but the duo did say that they have yet to record any verses for the release. Click here to view the interview.

Taylor Gang CEO Wiz Khalifa may have released his latest album ONIFC back in December, but that isn’t stopping the twenty-something rapper from rushing back to the studio in hopes of getting another album out before the end of 2013.

During a recent visit to Big Boi’s Neighborhood on Power106, Wiz revealed he has already returned to the studio and begun work on his third full length label release. Details are, of course, very few and far between at this point, but the “Roll Up” songwriter does hope to have a new record on shelves in time for Christmas. Click here to stream the interview.

Indie darlings empire! empire! (i was a lonely estate) have revealed to fans in a new update that they plan to enter the studio this Spring in order to begin working on their second LP.

Taking to Twitter just after midnight, empire! empire! (i was a lonely estate) announced they will be recording in Kansas City with Ed Rose beginning April 6. No further details were given, but you can view the original tweet below:

We will begin recording our second full length starting April 6th with Ed Rose at the Black Lodge in Kansas City.Get pumped! <3

Sad news out of the Yellowcard camp today, as fans around the world are waking up to the news frontman Ryan Key is currently suffering from a hemorrhaged vocal chord.

Key broke the news himself late last night via Twitter. In a series of messages, Keywrote:

“Tried to do some recording today. Turns out singing through all the illness on the last tour caused my vocal chord to hemorrhage and swell. So it’s vocal rest for me for a while. Dr’s orders. So bummed. Could be worse though. He says its healing, just needs some time off.”

Yellowcard recently began working on a follow up to 2012′ Southern Air. Click below to enjoy one of the album’s bigger singles. (more…)

In case you missed it last week, Nirvanareunited and Paul McCartney is the new Kurt Cobain… Okay, maybe not quite, but Nirvana members Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic did perform together for the first time in 20 years, joined by Pat Smear on guitar and Macca on vocals. The group had been jamming together just for fun and ended up writing a song called “Cut Me Some Slack,” which they premiered at last week’s 12/12/12 Hurricane Sandy benefit concert at Madison Square Garden. Apparently the song was also written and recorded for the soundtrack of Grohl’s Sound City documentary. I have to admit, it’s not the most impressive work by these musicians. Listen to it below and see what you think:

Boston hardcore band Vannahave entered the studio once again to record their 4th full length album, The Few And The Far Between. This time around, they’ve decided to return to producer Jay Maas (Have Heart, American Nightmare, Polar Bear Club) at Getaway Recordings in Haverhill, MA. Maas produced 2010’s The Honest Hearts EP. You can read the official statement from lead singer Davey Muise below.

With all the touring we’ve done especially this past year and all the time away from home, not only did it make for great writing time and lyrical ammo, it made us want to do the next record at home. For the sound and direction we were going Jay was a no brainer for us. Doing The Honest Hearts EP with Jay was so easy and comfortable; we wanted to see what a full record with our dude would be like. We are psyched to see what Jay and the band will do with TFATFB. We will have a full recording blog with pictures and videos all on vannaboston.com so everyone can follow along with this record as it comes alive.